Toilet Seat

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat includes a seat and a device for applying and transporting a tube-like protective covering for the seat, which is unwound from a delivery spool and wound onto a delivery takeup roll contained in a housing of the device. The seat on an end facing the takeup roll is mounted to pivot and fastened via a high-like connection to at least one wall at least partially separating the housing interior or to a fastening element. Simple and reliable cleaning of the device is made possible by free access to areas and by tilting the toilet seat up.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a U.S. national application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2008/052083 filed Feb. 20, 2008 with claiming of priority of European Application No. 07003708.0 filed Feb. 23, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a toilet seat with a device for applying and transporting a tube-like protective covering for the seat.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Cleaning of toilet seats and keeping them clean during or after use of a toilet can occur by means of a protective covering, this covering being replaced after each use. DE 28 35 257 describes such a device, in which a tube-like covering is pulled over the toilet seat and, after each use of the toilet, pulled further by at least the length of the toilet seat.

An important requirement in such devices is that simple cleaning, possibly also using cleaning agents, is possible in readily accessible fashion without adversely affecting function of the transport mechanism for transport of the protective covering.

A task of the present invention is therefore to allow for this requirement and to equip the toilet seat with the renewable protective covering of the known type and a driving transport mechanism, so that simple and reliable cleaning, without adversely affecting the method of function, is possible.

Another requirement consists of properly protecting the drive, the electronics and the power supply, so that the method of function is not adversely affected by penetrating water, urine, etc., so that reliable further pulling of the protective cover is no longer guaranteed. However, these devices should nevertheless be readily accessible, i.e., easily removable and reusable during repair, replacement of batteries, connection of an external power supply, etc. It is important that during removal or insertion, the work is not hampered by complicated retainers, plug mechanisms, connection of plug connectors, etc.

Another task of the present invention is therefore to configure the arrangement of functional elements, like drive, power supply, etc., as simply as possible, well secured relative to the exterior and easily installed or reinstalled.

To solve the task defined according to the invention, a toilet seat of the invention as disclosed herein after is proposed.

A toilet seat of the type described in DE 28 35 257 is proposed with a device for applying and transporting a tube-like protective covering for the seat arranged in the area of the toilet seat, which is unwound, on the one hand, from a delivery spool and wound, on the other hand, onto a drivable takeup spool. A housing is also proposed, having at least three at least partially separated areas, like an area at least including the delivery spool, an area provided for arrangement of a drive and a battery compartment and an area at least containing the takeup spool, as well as a cover. At least one partition that at least partially separates the areas is provided between the at least partially separated areas, in order to prevent penetration of, say, spray water, urine, etc. According to the invention, it is now proposed that the toilet seat freely lying on the end of the delivery spool is mounted to pivot and is fastened on the end facing the takeup spool via a hinge-like connection at least to a wall at least partially separating the housing interior or to a fastening element.

This pivotable mounting guarantees that the toilet seat is firmly connected to the housing and can be pivoted away from the toilet and housing, so that the area containing the takeup spool is freely accessible from the outside and therefore can be easily cleaned.

The same naturally applies for the area containing the delivery spool, which is also freely accessible from the outside by tilting the toilet seat up.

Other preferred variants of the toilet seat according to the invention are disclosed herein as explained further below in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

It is prescribed in a toilet seat of the invention proposed as an alternative or supplement that a channel be provided in or on the housing, containing the at least three areas for the delivery spool, drive and takeup spool, with contact connections provided in the corresponding areas, to which the batteries, drive or an external power supply can be plugged or connected merely by contact and removed again without cable connection manipulations being necessary.

A power rail inserted into the housing wall can then be involved with so-called tulip contacts directed laterally into the corresponding housing areas.

Also with reference to this variant of the toilet seat according to the invention, additional preferred variants are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the figures:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts, in a perspective view, mounting of the toilet seat in the rear housing provided for the transport mechanism of the protective covering,

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b show another perspective view of the toilet seat according to the invention with parts of the rear housing covered in the lowered position, FIG. 2 a and in the pivoted-out/tilted up position of the toilet seat, FIG. 2 b, and

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b again show a perspective view of the toilet seat according to the invention with the rear housing viewed from below, showing the power rails according to the invention and the channel cable cover in the removed, FIG. 3 a, and inserted position, FIG. 3 b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically depicts, in a perspective view, a toilet seat according to the invention, in which the seat ring and/or seat 1 can be protected with a tube-like covering and can be provided for hygienic reasons with a continuously renewable protective covering.

A tube-like covering is unwound onto the toilet seat 1 from a delivery spool (not shown) arranged in a delivery chamber 17 formed in the housing 8 arranged to the rear, and guided along the toilet seat 1 to the takeup roll 9, which is arranged in a corresponding takeup chamber 12 of the housing. A protective covering is shown with dashed lines in the area of delivery from the seat 1 and depicted with reference number 3. The takeup roll 9 can be driven by a motor 11, which can be arranged in a corresponding receiving chamber/compartment 18 in housing 8, as shown in FIG. 1. Instead of an electric drive, the takeup roll can also be driven manually or by mounting a crank in the area of the shaft connection 6, as shown in FIG. 1. By use of a crank, a corresponding mount or wall for the shaft of the takeup roll must naturally be provided in the area of the receiving chamber 18, which is provided for arrangement of an electric drive, so that this can be held stably in the corresponding receiving chamber.

The progress of unwinding and winding of the protective covering 3 can be read on a display 13 and during use of an electric drive motor, additional operating data and the condition of the batteries, which are optionally arranged for power supply, can also be displayed. For centered guiding of the protective covering 3, a guide roll 16 is additionally provided on the takeup roll 9, which is fastened by means of fastening elements 20 to the cover hood 8 a of housing 8 and lowered onto the protective covering 3 during lowering of the cover hood 8 a onto the shell 14 of housing 8.

An at least partially separating wall 19 is provided between the takeup chamber and the drive chamber.

During use of the drive motor 11 in the chamber 18 provided for it, the wall 24 of the motor housing provided opposite the takeup chamber can be designed, so that it lies on the at least partially separating wall 19. If no electric drive 11 is arranged in the chamber 18 provided for the drive or during use of a corresponding hand drive, like a crank, either a special mount for the carrying shaft of the takeup spool 9 must be provided or the separating wall 19 is formed to fully separate the two chambers, so that the carrying shaft is mounted in a corresponding recess of separating wall 19.

In order for the area in the takeup chamber, especially next to and beneath the toilet seat, to be readily accessible, for example, for cleaning, the toilet seat 1 is mounted to be pivoted upward around pivot point 27 on separating wall 19. The toilet seat 1 is then connected to the rotary fastening 27 via connection tabs 21 and 25. In order to prevent tilting up of the toilet seat 1, for example, during transport of the protective covering 3, a seat lock 23, like a so-called clip or stop tab, is additionally provided, which can be moved between a stop position and an open position for tilting up of the toilet seat 1.

Since the opposite end of toilet seat 1 lies loosely on the shell 14 of housing 8 in the area of delivery chamber 17, the toilet seat 1 can be tilted upward during release by the lock 23. By simultaneous tilting up of the cover hood 8 a and upward movement of the guide roll 16, the takeup chamber 12 is largely freely accessible from the outside, so that it can be reliably cleaned.

It is readily apparent from the two FIGS. 2 a and 2 b how the toilet seat 1 is arranged to be tilted up in the housing 8 (in the lowered position in FIG. 2 a and in the tilted up position in FIG. 2 b). The motor receiving chamber 18 is then shown with the motor removed, so that it is readily apparent how the toilet seat 1 is mounted to be tiltable on the at least partially separating wall 19 around an pivot point 27, for example, an pivot pin 28. A retaining clip 23 is shown in FIG. 2 a in the closed state, whereas FIG. 2 b shows the clip in the released position. As mentioned above, locking can also occur by means of a locking device, like a tab, which can secure or release the toilet seat by rotation by 90° or more.

It is also apparent from FIGS. 2 a and 2 b that in the center of housing 8 there are provided both a chamber 18 for arrangement of the drive motor as well as a receiving chamber/compartment 15 for arrangement of a battery pack for the power supply-motor. The battery chamber 15 is preferably separated via an additional partition 16 relative to the delivery chamber 17.

For stable mounting, the pivot pin 28 is preferably also mounted in a corresponding receptacle 36 in the separation wall between the drive motor chamber and the battery chamber.

In order to simplify replacement of the battery pack or to disassemble and reassemble the drive, for example, for repairs, it is also advantageous, if the corresponding contacts for power supply can be handled as easily as possible. In other words, no complicated cable plug connection manipulations should be necessary and the electrical connections should in no way hamper sealing of the individual chambers, especially relative to penetration of spray water or urine, from the takeup or delivery chamber.

For this reason, it is proposed that contacts, like so-called tulip contacts, be provided, as schematically shown in FIG. 2 b in the battery chamber 15 and provided with reference number 31. The contact occurs in a common cable channel 34, which connects the drive chamber 18, battery chamber 15 and an external connection 33 to each other.

The common channel is clearly apparent with reference to both FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, which show the toilet seat according to the invention, i.e., the seat 1 and the housing 8, in a perspective view from below relative to shell 14. The channel 34 is shown open in FIG. 3 a, the contacts 31 for the batteries and for the motor being shown, whereas an external connection 33 is provided additionally laterally on the outside to the cover hood 8 a. In order to close the cable channel 34 spray water-tight to the outside, a cable channel cover 35 is provided, which is removed in FIG. 3 a and inserted and mounted spray water-tight in FIG. 3 b.

By using a common channel or cable channel 34 with a spray water-tight cover 35, it is additionally guaranteed that both the battery compartment 15 and the motor compartment 18 can be sealed water-tight to the outside, so that water, urine or other contaminants cannot penetrate into the two chambers.

FIG. 3 b finally schematically shows a lock 41, in order to connect the cover hood 8 a to the shell.

Through the two expedients primarily exposed according to the invention, namely the tiltable arrangement of the seat 1 and the formation of a common channel 34 with spray water-tight channel cover 35, it is possible, on the one hand, to reliably clean the seat according to the invention, especially the different easily soiled chambers in housing 8 and, on the other hand, to guarantee that the chambers for arrangement of a battery pack and the motor, and optionally the electronics, can be protected spray water-tight relative to the outside.

It is also proposed that the progress of unwinding of the protective covering from the delivery roll and winding onto the takeup roll can be recorded via an algorithm correspondingly coupled to the motor, in which it is assumed that the total length of the protective covering is almost equal. In other words, the drive can be controlled by the algorithm, so that with progressive winding, the corresponding drive length is reduced, so that the length of the wound protective covering remains roughly the same. When the process is completed and a new delivery roll is inserted, the algorithm is reset to the original value, so that the motor initially drives the winding roll longer again and, with progressive delivery of the protective covering, the winding time is shortened. In addition, progress of consumption of the protective covering can be visually followed on display 13.

It is naturally also possible to follow the progress of consumption of the protective covering by means of other devices, like optically by means of an optical sensor that records a corresponding marking on the guide roll 16. Since rotation of the guide roll also remains constant during progressive consumption of the protective covering, the same path length can always be measured during optical recording. However, the use of an optical sensor has the drawback that countable recording of the path length is hampered by soiling. However, progress can also be recorded magnetically by arranging a metal part laterally on the guide roll. Instead of the metal part, however, a transmission device can also be arranged, whose movement can serve for recording the path covered by the tube. No limits are imposed on the possibilities, it being essential that roughly the same amount of tube is always replaced on the toilet seat.

Different approaches are also possible for initiating tube replacement, for example, the process can occur by means of a simple pushbutton, by means of an electronic pressure sensor, by means of a capacitive switch, etc. The use of a capacitive switch has the advantage that only movements of a user to initiate tube replacement are recorded in the generated magnetic field and not any movements of textiles, clothing, etc.

The possible variants of the toilet seat according to the invention depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3 merely represent examples, which can be supplemented or modified in arbitrary ways.

Tiltability of the toilet seat, on the one hand, and in the motor driven variant, use of a common channel for power supply of the drive motor, on the other hand, are essential to the invention. 

1. A toilet seat comprising: a seat; a device arranged in the area of the seat for applying and transporting a tube-like protective covering for the seat, which is unwound from a delivery spool and wound onto a drivable takeup roll the device including, a housing with a shell and a cover hood, having at least three at least partially separated areas including an area for containing the delivery spool, an area for arrangement of an optional drive and optionally a battery compartment and an area for containing the takeup roll; wherein the seat on an end facing the takeup roll is mounted to pivot and fastened via a hinge-like connection to at least one wall at least partially separating the housing interior or to a fastening element.
 2. The toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising at least one guide roll that guides the protective covering, the guide roll being arranged in front of the takeup roll, the guide roll being fastened to the cover hood and pivotable with the cover hood away from the protective covering.
 3. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the guide roll and the takeup roll which is provided with a silicone coating.
 4. The toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device for locking the seat in a lowered position in order to prevent tilting up during transport of the protective covering.
 5. The toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising a drive arranged in the area provided for a drive, which is effectively connected to a control, which controls the duration of driving of the takeup roll based on a previously determined algorithm, so that roughly the same length of the protective covering is always transported along the seat per renewal process.
 6. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein a channel for power supply of a drive of the device is provided that at least connects the area provided for the drive, an external connection on the housing and the shell, and optionally the battery compartment.
 7. The toilet seat according to claim 6, wherein current contacts are provided at least on the battery compartment and in the drive, which can be connected on contact or pressure to produce a corresponding contact.
 8. The toilet seat according to claim 6, wherein the channel is inserted into a wall, of the shell, and a cable channel cover is provided for tight closure of the cable channel relative to the outside. 